THE “NELLIE BLY” SERIES The Mystery of Central Park [Illustration: cover] BY NELLIE BLY Originally published in the New York EVENING WORLD MRS. MARY J. HOLMES’ NOVELS Over a MILLION Sold. _THE NEW BOOK_ GRETCHEN. JUST OUT. The following is a list of Mary J. Holmes’ Novels. TEMPEST AND SUNSHINE. ENGLISH ORPHANS. HOMESTEAD ON THE HILLSIDE. LENA RIVERS. MEADOW BROOK. DORA DEANE. COUSIN MAUDE. MARIAN GREY. EDITH LYLE. DAISY THORNTON. CHATEAU D’OR. QUEENIE HETHERTON. DARKNESS AND DAYLIGHT. HUGH WORTHINGTON. CAMERON PRIDE. ROSE MATHER. ETHELYN’S MISTAKE. MILLBANK. EDNA BROWNING. WEST LAWN. MILDRED. FORREST HOUSE. MADELINE. CHRISTMAS STORIES. BESSIE’S FORTUNE. GRETCHEN. [_New._] THE MYSTERY OF CENTRAL PARK. A Novel. BY NELLIE BLY, AUTHOR OF “TEN DAYS IN A MAD HOUSE” AND “SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO.” [Illustration: colophon] NEW YORK: COPYRIGHT, 1889, BY _G. W. Dillingham, Publisher_, SUCCESSOR TO G. W. CARLETON & CO. MDCCCLXXXIX. _All Rights Reserved._ TROW’S PRINTING AND BOOK BINDING CO., N. Y. CONTENTS. Chapter Page I. The Young Girl on the Bench 7 II. Penelope Sets a Hard Task for Dick 19 III. Wherein Dick Treadwell Meets with Another Adventure 45 IV. Story of the Girl who Attempted Suicide 64 V. The Failure of the Strike 77 VI. Is the Girl Honest? 87 VII. Mr. Martin Shanks: Guardian 95 VIII. The Missing Stenographer 103 IX. The Stranger at the Bar 114 X. Tolman Bike 121 XI. Who was the Man that Bought the Gown? 139 XII. One and the Same 153 XIII. A Lovers’ Quarrel 166 XIV. “Give Me Until To-Morrow.” 177 XV. “To Richard Treadwell, Personal.” 190 XVI. The Mystery Solved 205 XVII. Sunlight Through the Clouds 220 THE MYSTERY OF CENTRAL PARK. CHAPTER I. THE YOUNG GIRL ON THE BENCH. “And that is your final decision?” Dick Treadwell gazed sternly at Penelope Howard’s downcast face, and waited for a reply. Instead of answering, as good-mannered young women generally do, Penelope intently watched the tips of her russet shoes, as they appeared and disappeared beneath the edge of her gown, and remained silent. When she raised her head and met that look, so sad and yet so stern, the faintest shadow of a smile placed a pleasing wrinkle at the corners of her brown eyes. “Yes, that is--my final decision,” she repeated, slowly.